Rodent-trap



RODENT TRAP. APPLICATION FILED MAY 19, 1919.

INVENTOR. I @0452? Patented Sept. 23, 1919.

' type,'with ameans for UNITED STATES PATENT onrroia WILLIAM H. GOSS, OF HAMMONTQN, CALIFORNIA.

RODENT-TRAP.

To all trim-m it may concern Be it known that I, VVrLLrAM H. Goss,

a citizen of the United States of America,

This invention relates to improvements in rodent traps, and particularly to the spring type commonly used by householders for the catching of mice'and rats on the premises. -The principal object of the invention is to provide a trap of the spring actuated keeping the spring set'which will release the the trap when either an ward pressure is exerted on the bait.

Another object is to provide a means for holding the bait in position whereby an attempted movement of the same Wlll positively cause the trap to be sprung.

' I have also provided a means for setting the spring of the trap without the danger of the spring slipping and causing the trapbar to hurt the fingers.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purposes for which it is de signed.

These objects, I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of the parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claim.

On the drawings, similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several vlews.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a trap showing my improvements thereon and with the spring in set position.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of a spring-lever retainer.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the same.

Referring more particularly tothe characters of reference on the numeral 1 denotes the base of the trap, of any desired size, transversely on which is pivotally mounted the usual coiled spring 2, having a horizontal arm 3 extendmg from one end thereof adapted to engage one side Specification of Letters Patent.

spring and actuate upward or downa projecting into the hook on a higher than the axis of the V-shaped inciof which the i base 1 sary slanting possible were it necessary to drawings, the

Patented Sept. 23, 1919.

- I Application filed May 19, 1919. Serial No. 298,215.

of a stiff wire trap frame 4: in the usual manner.

'A round lever 5 formed of stiff wire is mounted to one end of the base 1, and

adapted, to bear against the cross bar 43 of the trap frame to hold the same against undesired movement when the spring is placed in tension by turning the frame back under the lever.

-Hinged to the base 1 as at 6 at right angles to thes ring 2, and beyond the lever 5 is a treadle I, having a steel metal plate 8 projecting lengthwise of, and under the same and secured thereto, the end of the plate turning up about the end of the treadle farthest from the spring to form a finger 9 extending a certain distance over the treadle and spaced from the same to hold a piece of bait'lO'thereund'er, between the linger and the treadle.

The other end of the plate 8 at'that end of the treadlehaving the hinge 6, and which is ad acent the spring 2, and which I term the forward end of the'treadle, turns upwardly to form a lever catch 11, for the own turned end l2 of the lever 5. This catch turns up a certain distance beyond the treadle, and then bends forwardly to form a hook 13, provided with a horizontally positioned V-shaped incision 14"cut in one edge thereof and adapted to receive the lever-end 12 therein.

.The rear end of the hook portion of the i plate is crimped to form a horizontal lug 15 a line slightly s1on 14, and on the under side extending lengthwise of the treadle to allow the same plenty of play on the hinge. I

A finger-hole 17 is also provided in the underthe'treadle so that the necesosition ofthe treadle plate to engagethe lever may be had by pushing on the same through the hole, thereby eliminating the danger of "the slipping of the spring and hurting thehand, as would be I set the treadle from the upper side of the'sarne.

While I have shown the device as applied to a small spring mouse orrat trap, the- 1 same principle may be utilized on any form of spring trap uslng'bait as a lure.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that any attempt of a rodent to remove the bait from the treadle, either by pulling up or pressing down on the same, will cause the sides of the \l-shaped incision in the hook 13 to bear against the end of the lever 5 and force the same from contact with the lugv15, thereby releasing such lever and also the sprin -held trap bar 42-. Thus, rom the foregoingdescription it will. readily be seen that I have produced such a devlce as substantially fulfils the objects of the invention as set forth herein. 5 While this specification sets forth in de- Itail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice, such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure i'rom the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claim. t

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is: A rodent trap including a'spring controlled trap bar, a lever adapted to bear against the bar and hold the same against undesired movement when the spring is in tension, a bait retaining treadle hinged for vertical movement andadapted to hold one end of the lever when the same is in position against the bar, and means on the treadle whereby a vertical movement of the same in either direction Will release the lever and cause the trap to be sprung, such means including a hook on the end of the.

treadle'adjacent the lever, a V shaped incision cut in one edge of the hook and in which the lever is adapted to seat, the same being arcuate in cross section, and a lug in the hook on the under side of which the end of the lever bears.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

WILLIAM H; GOSS.

Witnesses:

MAE BLOCK, J. E. EBERT. 

